Exercise chair

ABSTRACT

A chair which is convertible to an exercise machine comprises a front L-shaped frame member (51) and a substantially straight rear frame member (52) which is pivotable between a vertical position to form a chair and a horizontal position to form an exercise machine. 
     In the configuration as an exercise machine, the seat (90), which has wheels underneath, slides along the rear frame member (52) as the user pulls on a bar (80) against the force of springs (85, 86). Cross-members (66, 67) serve as foot rests. The bar may be replaced by two spring members (40, FIG. 3) attached to the top of the vertical limbs of the front frame member.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an exercise chair and more particularlya chair that can be converted into an exercise machine, e.g. a rowingmachine.

BACKGROUND ART

There is known from GB No. 1133927 a chair which is convertible to asculling machine. However, the conversion procedure is relativelycomplicated and the chair is relatively bulky and does not have anaesthetically pleasing appearance.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The present invention seeks to provide an exercise chair of pleasingappearance, which comprises only a relatively small number of componentparts, and which can readily be converted from one configuration toanother.

According to the present invention there is provided a chair which isconvertible to an exercise machine characterised in that it comprises afront frame member of generally L-shaped cross-section having a verticalportion and a horizontal portion, and a substantially straight rearframe member which is pivotally connected to the end of the saidhorizontal portion remote from said vertical portion and is pivotablebetween a first position in which it constitutes the back of the chairand a second horizontal portion in which it constitutes an extension ofsaid horizontal portion of the front frame member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described byway of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, ofwhich:

FIG. 1 is a side view of an exercise chair in accordance with a firstembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the chair of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side view of the exercise chair of FIGS. 1 and 2 when openedout into the configuration of a rowing machine;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an exercise chair in accordance with asecond embodiment of the present invention when opened out into theconfiguration of an exercise machine;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the chair of FIG. 4 when reassembled;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an exercise chair which is amodification of the second embodiment, similar to the view of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of part of an alternative modification ofthe second embodiment; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged side view of the modification of FIG. 7.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIGS. 1 to 3 of the drawings, there is shown a chair 10comprising two relatively-movable frame members 11, 12 connectedtogether by hinges 13. The hinges may be arranged to be locked in anadjusted position. Frame member 11 comprises two parallel horizontalstruts 20, two parallel vertical struts 21 and a further horizontalstrut (not shown) interconnecting the tops of struts 21 and concealed byseat 30 in use as a chair, FIGS. 1 and 2. Frame member 12 comprises twoelongate struts 23 interconnected at an intermediate point by ahorizontal strut (not shown) concealed by seat 30 in use as a chair andinterconnected at their ends remote from hinges 13 by a horizontal strut32 located behind back rest 31 in use as a chair. Struts 23 are verticalin normal use as a chair and horizontal in use as a rowing machine, FIG.3.

Back rest 31 is mounted on struts 32 by means of an arm 35 freelypivotally mounted at both ends.

Seat 30 is attached to the horizontal struts (not shown) of frame 11 and12, e.g. by a snap-fitting arrangement. This serves to prevent or assistin preventing relative rotation of the frame members. The underside ofseat 30 has attachment means for securing in a concealed manner twoexercise springs 40 (one of which is shown in FIG. 3). The springs areconcealed by side walls 37. The corners of the underside of seat 30 areeach provided with a wheel which is grooved or flanged so as to becapable of riding on the rails formed by struts 20 and 23 in the rowingmachine configuration of FIG. 3.

Two horizontal struts 24, 25 interconnect the struts 21. Strut 24 hastwo rearwardly-extending substantially semi-circular loops 26 and strut25 has two similar forwardly-extending loops 27. The loops are shaped tobe comfortable for receiving the feet. Struts 20 and 23 are providedwith pads 36 to space them from the floor.

In use, starting from the chair configuration of FIGS. 1 and 2, seat 30is first detached from the frame members. Frame member 12 is thenrotated to its horizontal position shown in FIG. 3 and hinges 13 arelocked, when this facility is provided. Back rest 31 is pivoted to itsnew position shown in FIG. 3. The two exercise springs 40 are thendetached from the underside of seat 30 and attached to the tops ofstruts 21. The wheels on the underside of seat 30 are then placed onstruts 20 and 23.

The exercise machine is now ready for use. The user sits on seat 30 withhis or her heels resting on the inside (i.e. rear) of loops 27 and toeson the inside (i.e. front) of loops 25. With the arms pulling on handles41 of springs 40 and with the toes pulling on loops 26, the user movesforward with seat 30 until springs 40 slacken. The user then pushesagainst loops 27 to move the seat 30 backward and to tension springs 40again.

When exercise has finished, the chair is assembled by reversing thedismantling process.

An advantage of the above-described embodiment is that the chair is ofpleasing appearance when being used as such. The parts used solely inthe exercise mode are concealed from view and the parts having a dualrole do not appear out of place.

Furthermore the chair comprises only a relatively small number of partsand can quickly be converted from a chair to a rowing machine and backagain.

Various modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment. Forexample the wheels on the underside of the seat can be replaced orsupplemented by sets of rollers which may be arranged in invertedchannel members secured to the underside of the seat.

In a further preferred modification the springs 40 are permanentlyattached by their ends to the tops of struts 21; clips (not shown) areconveniently provided for holding the handles 41 against the bottom ofthe seat 30 during use as chair. This modification has the advantage offurther facilitating conversion.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5 there is shown an exercise chair 50comprising two relatively-pivotable frame members 51,52. Frame 51comprises vertical struts 61,62, horizontal struts 63,64 and horizontalcross-members 65-69. In use as a chair, the front of seat 90 rests oncross-member 65.

Frame 52 is hinged at 70 to frame 51, and comprises two parallel struts71,72 which are vertical in FIG. 5 and horizontal in FIG. 4. Frame 52also comprises two horizontal cross-members 73,74 and a fixed back rest75. In use as a chair, the rear of seat 90 rests on cross-member 73.

Pivotally connected to cross-member 69 of frame 51 is a T-shaped bar 80having a shaft 81 and a cross-bar 82. Shaft 81 is telescopic and meansare provided for locking the parts thereof in an adjusted position.

In use as an exercise machine, seat 90 is arranged to slide on wheels(not shown) over the entire length of struts 71,72 including the partsembracing back rest 75. One end of a rope 84 is attached to anintermediate point along shaft 81. The rope 84 passes aroundcross-member 68 and is attached to first ends of two coil springs 85,86.The other ends of springs 85,86 are attached to spaced points (notshown) of cross-member 73. Springs 85,86 are preferably 10 cm long.

The user sits on seat 90 and engages his or her feet with cross-members66,67. Holding the ends of cross-bar 82 he or she then moves backwardsand forwards to exercise.

To convert the exercise machine of FIG. 4 into the chair of FIG. 5, seat90 is removed, frame 52 is pivoted to its vertical position, and seat 90is then located in position on cross-members 65 and 73. If desired rope84 and springs 85, 86 may be detached and stowed in storage means on theunderside of seat 90; alternatively, to save time, the rope and springsmay remain in position. Means may also be provided on the underside ofseat 90 for receiving and holding the cross-bar 82 in its FIG. 5position. This procedure is reversed to obtain the exercise machineagain.

The above described arrangement has similar advantages to the exercisechair described in connection with FIGS. 1 to 3. In addition there isthe advantage that, in the exercise configuration, the back rest 75 doesnot limit backward movement and thus the seat 90 can slide along theentire length of frame 52. Furthermore time is saved during conversion,since pivoting of the back rest into its desired position is avoided.

The adjustability of the length of shaft 81 has the advantage of makingthe apparatus adaptable to be used by people of different heights andarm lengths.

Any of the features of the exercise chair of FIGS. 1 to 3 may replace ormodify the corresponding features of the chair of FIGS. 4 and 5 and viceversa. For example the hinges 70 may be lockable, the foot rests 66,67may be shaped and/or the back rest 75 may be pivotable. If the back restis not pivotable, special stop elements (not shown) may be provided onthe struts 71, 72 and on the underside of seat 90 to prevent the seatsliding off the back of the exercise machine during use.

In a modified exercise chair 150, FIG. 6, rope 84 is attached to the twosprings (85, 86 not shown in FIG. 6) via an adjustment device 100 whichpermits the tension in the springs to be adjusted. This has theadvantage of permitting exercise by a wide range of users and alsopermits the force necessary to operate the apparatus to be graduallyincreased as an individual user becomes fitter and stronger.

Two additional bracing bars 101, 102 are provided between cross-members68,69. In addition cross-member 65 is omitted; instead, when in use as achair, the front corners of seat 90 rest on stops 105, 106. A groovedrubber or plastics tube 107 is also provided around cross-member 66 toact as a foot grip.

In another modified exercise chair, FIGS. 7 and 8, the T-shaped bar 80is stressed in a different manner. The bar itself is pivotally mountedon cross-member 69. The bottom ends of two rods 161, 162 are pivotallyconnected to cross-member 68. The top ends of the rods are pivotallyconnected to a sleeve member 165 which is slidably mounted around theshaft 81 of bar 80. A strong compression spring 168 surrounds shaft 81between the sleeve 165 and cross-member 69.

As the user pulls bar 80 in the direction indicated by arrow A, the rods161, 162 pull sleeve member 165 down as indicated by arrow B. Spring 168is compressed and rods 161,162 pivot as indicated by arrow C. Rod 161and sleeve member 165 then occupy the positions shown in dotted lines inFIG. 8.

Instead of or in addition to springs 40; 85, 86; the pulling means maycomprise a hydraulic and/or a pneumatic device.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus arranged to rest on a substantiallylevel and horizontal support surface and convertible between a chairconfiguration and an exercise machine configuration, the apparatuscomprising a front frame member of generally L-shaped cross-sectionhaving a vertical portion and a horizontal portion substantiallyperpendicular thereto, a substantially straight rear frame member, saidrear frame member being pivotally connected to the end of saidhorizontal portion remote from said vertical portion, a pull-resistantmeans and a detachable seat member, wherein, in the chair configuration,said horizontal portion is arranged to engage the horizontal supportsurface and to constitute the support means for the chair thereon, saidrear frame member is pivoted to a first position substantiallyperpendicular to said horizontal portion and constituting the back ofthe chair, and said seat member extends parallel to said horizontalportion and is detachably connected to and extends between the upper endof said vertical portion of said front frame member and a point on saidrear frame member, and wherein, in the exercise machine configuration,said rear frame member is pivoted relative to said front frame member toa second position constituting an extension of said horizontal portionof said front frame member and said seat member is movably mountedthereon, and one end of said pull-resistant means is attached to one ofsaid frame members, the other end of said pull-resistant means beingprovided with handle means.
 2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1,wherein said seat member is provided with rolling means, for moving onsaid rear frame member.
 3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, whereinsaid front frame member comprises a pair of spaced vertical and parallellimbs constituting said vertical portion and a pair of spaced horizontaland parallel limbs constituting said horizontal portion and said rearframe member comprises a pair of spaced straight and parallel limbs,wherein spaced first and second cross-members are provided extendingbetween and perpendicular to the limbs of said pairs, and wherein saidpull-resistant means comprises a bar and pull-resisting means, said oneend of said bar being pivotally attached to said first cross-member andsaid pull-resisting means being coupled between said bar and said secondcross-member.